Pokemon GO

Teacher Overview

Pokémon GO is an insanely popular augmented reality game, has captured the attention of kids and adults alike, creating new opportunities for teachers to make lessons more engaging.

Teacher Review

The Pokemon franchise has always been about two things: collecting fanciful creatures and making them fight each other. Pokemon Go builds on this, using augmented reality to bring these challenges into the real world. It uses your phone’s camera and GPS to show Pokemon around you in the real world. So, for example, while I’m walking through the school, I actually see different Pokemon in the various classes and play areas.

The idea and concept behind the app is innovative, yet similar apps have previously been built to use the GPS capability, with the opportunity to create treasure hunts around the local area.

Pokemon Go will allow people of all ages to come together to solve problems. The app would be engaging, fun, and users would feel good about what they learn and accomplish.

Key Terms Explained

Pokeball: the item you need to capture Pokemon

Pokestop: Place you locate in the game and visit to gather Pokeballs

Pokedex: A incomplete encyclopedia given to you in the game that is populated with details of the Pokémon as you capture them

Gym: a specific place in the game where you can have your Pokemon battle for control

How Pokemon Go can be used in Education?

Digital Storytelling - Students can take the image of the Pokemon and use it later in creating a digital story about their adventures.

Data Literacy Skills - Ed Tech magazine suggests that using the data-tracking element of the game to teach students important data literacy skills like processing, manipulation, presentation and analysis of data.

Fun with supervision - Kids can get out in the real world and be active, looking for characters, plus learn about landmarks.

Safeguarding

Screenshots

Developer Description

Now’s your chance to discover and capture the Pokémon all around you—so get your shoes on, step outside, and explore the world. You’ll join one of three teams and battle for the prestige and ownership of Gyms with your Pokémon at your side.

Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pikachu, and many other Pokémon have been discovered on planet Earth!

Pokémon are out there, and you need to find them. As you walk around a neighborhood, your smartphone will vibrate when there’s a Pokémon nearby. Take aim and throw a Poké Ball… You’ll have to stay alert, or it might get away!

Search far and wide for Pokémon and items
Certain Pokémon appear near their native environment—look for Water-type Pokémon by lakes and oceans. Visit PokéStops, found at interesting places like museums, art installations, historical markers, and monuments, to stock up on Poké Balls and helpful items.

Catching, hatching, evolving, and more
As you level up, you’ll be able to catch more-powerful Pokémon to complete your Pokédex. You can add to your collection by hatching Pokémon Eggs based on the distances you walk. Help your Pokémon evolve by catching many of the same kind.

Take on Gym battles and defend your Gym
As your Charmander evolves to Charmeleon and then Charizard, you can battle together to defeat a Gym and assign your Pokémon to defend it against all comers.

It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await!

Note:

- This app is free-to-play and offers in-game purchases. It is optimized for smartphones, not tablets.
- It is recommended to play while connected to a network in order to obtain accurate location information.
- Compatibility is not guaranteed for devices without GPS capabilities or devices that are connected only to Wi-Fi networks
- Compatibility information may be changed at any time.
- Compatible with iPhone® 5/5c/5s/SE/6/6s/6 Plus/6s Plus devices with iOS Version 8 - 9 installed
- Not compatible with 5th generation iPod Touch devices or iPhone 4S or earlier iPhone devices.
- Please visit www.PokemonGO.com for additional compatibility information.
- Compatibility with tablet devices is not guaranteed.
- Compatibility is not guaranteed for all devices.